Key controlled switch arrangement



Sept. 14, 1965 c. L. GRIMM 3,206,567

KEY CONTROLLED SWITCH ARRANGEMENT Filed June 15, 1961 I I I "(Ie'c A 33 I4 3] 3 3 34 37 3O 34 18 j O '6 H l6 INVENTOR.

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,4 TTORNE Y3 United States Patent 3,206,567 KEY CONTROLLED SWITCH ARRANGEMENT Clayton L. Grimm, Concord, Calif., assignor to A. 0. Smith Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of New York Filed June 13, 1961, Ser. No. 116,869 3 Claims. (Cl. 200-44) This invention relates to switching arrangements for controlling the operation of electrical devices, and is particularly directed to a key controlled switch assembly having particular application in inventory control.

It is often beneficial that various classes of goods be distributed to the consumer in an unattended fashion. For example, in some instances it is impractical for an attendant to be on continuous duty to supply gasoline to a limited number of consumers who may require the gasoline at any hour of the day or night. Under such circumstances it is desirable that the gasoline pumps be unattended and means be provided to enable only predetermined consumers to pump their own gasoline whenever they require it. However, inasmuch as the supplier is not in attendance provision must be made to meter the quantity of gasoline supplied to each of the predetermined consumers for purposes of inventory control, billing and the like.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a key controlled switch arrangement for actuating gasoline pumps, meters, and the like in response to actuation of a key operated lock.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inventory control device having a plurality of switching banks controllable by a corresponding plurality of locks each operable by a different key such that the switches may be employed to actuate various inventory, dispensing and metering devices corresponding to lock position and the keys may be distributed to a number of predetermined consumers to facilitate unattended dispensing and accounting of the inventory.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of the class described which is relatively simple in construction yet fool proof in operation.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a plan view with portions broken away of an inventory control device employing key controlled switching assemblies in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 and illustrating one key controlled switching assembly in unactuated position and the other in actuated position.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken at line 33 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating the operation of the linkage employed between the locks and switches of the device.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken at line 4-4 of FIGURE 2 and illustrating further details of the linkage.

Referring now to the drawing, the key controlled switching assembly 11 of the present invention will be seen to include a conventional lock 12 coupled to one or more switches 13 through an actuating linkage 14. The actuating linkage operates the switches in response 3,206,567 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 to turning of the lock by a conformed key 16. A number of the assemblies 11 are shown in the drawing embodied in an inventory control unit 17. More specifically, the control unit includes a housing 18 with the locks 12 of the respective assemblies mounted in rows on its front panel 19 so as to be readily accessible for insertion of the keys. The actuating linkages 14 are disposed within the housing in underlying relation to the corresponding blocks and the corresponding switches 13 in turn underlie the linkages. It will be appreciated that the switches 13 of each assembly may only be actuated upon operation of the corresponding lock with its conformed key. Thus each lock may serve to designate a given consumer to whom the corresponding key is given. The corresponding switches may be for example connected in the energization circuits of a gasoline pump and a counter or meter circuit peculiar to the lock position on the panel and therefore to the consumer possessing the corresponding key. Consequently, the consumer may insert his key into the assigned lock and operate same to effect energization of the gasoline pump. Simultaneously with such pump energization the counter corresponding to the consumers lock position is energized and the amount of gasoline delivered is recorded. The inventory control unit thus facilitates unattended accounding of the gasoline delivered to each consumer having an assigned lock position.

Considering now the key controlled switching assemblies 12 as employed in the control unit 17 in greater detail, it should be noted that the switches 13 are preferably of the encapsulated reed variety which include a pair of metallic reeds 21, 22 projecting inwardly from,

the opposite ends of a sealed envelope 23 into adjacent spaced overlapping relation at its center. The switch envelopes are mounted on an insulated terminal strip 24 which is preferably mounted within a detachable cover portion 26 of the housing in spaced parallel relation to the front panel 19. In the preferred embodiment two switches are provided in each switch assembly with the envelopes in juxtaposition. The switch envelopes are preferably mounted so as to be inclined from the vertical in the interest of compactness, a lesser spacing between adjacent rows of switches being required when the envelopes are inclined than when they are vertical. The input leads to the reeds 21, 22 of each switch are connected to corresponding sets of terminal lugs 27 on the opposite face of the terminal strip 24, such lugs facilitating connection of the switches in circuit with external circuitry (not shown) by means of lead-in conductors 28.

With reed switches employed as the switches 13 of each assembly, the corresponding actuated linkage preferably comprises a permanent magnet 29, or equivalent magnet means, which is disposed in close proximity to the centers of the switch envelopes. The magnet of each assembly is coupled to the actuating cam 30 of the corresponding lock and rotatable therewith between an unactuating position transverse to the axes of the switch envelopes and an actuating position aligned therewith as the key turns the lock between locked and unlocked positions. When the magnet is in its unactuating position transverse to the envelope axes, the reeds are not attracted by the magnet flux inasmuch as the flux of such a bar magnet emanates substantially solely from its ends and the magnet ends are remotely disposed relative to the reeds. When the magnet is rotated into alignment with the envelopes, however, the magnet ends are in close proximity to the reeds and consequently attract them into closed engagement, thus closing circuits in which the switches are connected.

As regards the coupling between each magnet 29'and magnet rotation, as best shown in FIGURE 2, the coupling includes a shaft 31 journalled for rotation in and extending through a mounting plate 32 secured within the housing in interposed parallel relation to the front panel 19 and terminal strip 24. The shaft is aligned with the center of the switch envelopes and carries a hub 33 at its proximal end relative thereto. The magnet is diametrically mounted in the hub with the opposite ends of the magnet projecting therefrom. A disc 34 is coaxially secured to the other end of the shaft and disposed adjacent the inner end of the lock 12. The disc is provided with a radial slot 36 which is engaged by a pin 37 projecting from the lock cam 30. Thus when the lock cam is rotated in response to actuation of the lock, the pin 37 correspondingly effects rotation of the disc and shaft to in turn rotate the magnet.

Rotation of the magnet is limited between its unactuating and actuating positions to insure fool proof opening and closing of the switches. To this end, a metallic stop pin 39 which projects from the mounting plate 32 is engageable with one end of the magnet in its unactuated position transverse to the switch axes and also engageable with the opposite end of the magnet in its actuated position. Furthermore, by virtue of the attraction between the magnet and pin, a positive retention of the magnet in either position is obtained. In order to prevent rotation of the lock in a counterclockwise direction beyond the lock position as viewed in FIGURE 1 a stop pin 38 projecting from the inner end of the block is adapted to engage the cam 30 when the lock is in the locked position.

There is thus provided by the present invention a key actuated switch assembly that may be advantageously employed in the inventory control unit 17. Where such control unit is utilized in connection with gasoline pumping apparatus, one of the switches 13a of each switching assembly is connected in the energization circuit of a common control relay which functions to start the gasoline pump, open the control valve, energize the lights, etc. All of these switches 13a may be connected to the single control relay inasmuch as but one consumer can use the pump at a time. The other switches 13b of the respective switching assemblies are each connected in a different one of a plurality of meter energization circuits corresponding to the respective switching assemblies of the control unit. Upon turning the conformed key 16 in the appropriate lock 12 its cam 30 is rotated to in turn rotate the corresponding magnet through the connecting linkage from its unactuating position to its actuating position as determined by engagement of the magnet with a side of stop pin 39. The reeds of the corresponding switches are in turn magnetically closed to effect energization of the circuits connected thereto. As the gasoline is pumped, the meter corresponding to the switching assembly records the amount applied to the particular consumer preassigned that switching assembly. Upon turning the lock to lock position, the magnet is correspondingly rotated to engage another side of the stop pin 39 and when in close proximity thereto is attracted into engagement therewith to thus be retentively oriented in its unactuating position and the cam 30 is engaged by the stop pin 38 to prevent further rotation of the lock. The switches 13 hence open to deenergize their associated circuits.

What is claimed is:

1. Key controlled switching means comprising a housing, a lock mounted on said housing having an actuating cam movable in a single direction between locked and unlocked positions in response to turning of a key in the lock, a switch in said housing having contacts closable by magnetic attraction, a magnet connected to said actuating cam and rotatably movable through about 90 of rotation about a fixed pivot support between positions of unattraction and attraction to said contacts respectively corresponding to said locked and unlocked positions of said cam, and a metallic stop in said housing adjacent said magnet and magnetically attractable by said magnet, said stop being engageable with portions of said magnet to opposite sides of the fixed pivot support in its said positions of unattraction and attraction to said contacts so as to positively retain said magnet in each of said positions.

2. Key controlled switching means comprising a housing, a lock mounted on said housing and having an actuating cam in said housing movable between locked and unlocked positions in response to turning of a key in the lock from exteriorly of said housing, at least one encapsulated reed switch in said housing having a pair of metallic reed contacts projecting inwardly from the opposite ends of a sealed envelope into adjacent spaced overlapping relation at its center, a bar magnet in said housing disposed adjacent the center of said switch envelope and selectively rotatable about a fixed pivot point generally centrally thereof between normally related positions transverse and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said switch, linkage means connecting said cam to said magnet for rotating the latter between said transverse and parallel positions in response to movement of the former between said locked and unlocked positions, a metallic stop in said housing adjacent said magnet and magnetically engageable with one end portion of said magnet when in its transverse position and magnetically engageable with an opposite end portion of said magnet when rotated in a first direction from its transverse position to its parallel position, and a second stop in said housing engageable by said cam when the latter is moved in a direction productive of rotation of said magnet in a second direction opposite to said first direction of rotation.

3. An inventory control unit comprising a housing, a plurality of locks mounted upon the front of said housing with each lock having an actuating cam within said housing movable in a single direction between locked and unlocked positions in response to turning of a conformed key in the corresponding lock, a plurality of elongated encapsulated reed switches mounted within said housing and respectively underlying the cams of said locks, said reed switches being arranged in a column with each switch being similarly angularly positioned in the column to place the adjacent ends in laterally spaced aligned relation a plurality of bar magnets respectively closely overlying the centers of said switches and each selectively rotatable about a fixed pivot point generally centrally thereof between positions transverse and parallel to the longitudinal axes of the switches, a plurality of actuating linkages respectively coupling said cams to the corresponding magnets and rotating the latter between said transverse and parallel positions in response to movement of the former between said locked and unlocked positions, and a plurality of metallic stops adjacent the respective magnets and engageable with first end portions of said magnets when in their transverse positions and engageable with second end portions of said magnets opposite to said first end portions when said magnets are in their parallel positions.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,874,199 8/32 Lingo et a1. 200-87 2,520,935 9/50 Hubbell 200-67 2,573,920 11/51 McLeod 200-87 2,767,278 10/ 5 6 Collins 200-87 2,935,591 5/60 Lee 200-153 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. WALTER STOLWEIN, Examiner. 

1. KEY CONTROLLED SWITCHING MEANS COMPRISING A HOUSING, A LOCK MOUNTED ON SAID HOUISNG HAVING AN ACTUATING CAM MOVABLE IN A SINGLE DIRECTION BETWEEN LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITIONS IN RESPONSE TO TURNING OF A KEY IN THE LOCK, A SWITCH IN SAID HOUSING HAVING CONTACTS CLOSABLE BY MAGNETIC ATTRACTION, A MAGNETIC ONNECTED TO SAID ACTUATING CAM AND ROTATABLY MOVABLE THUROUGH ABOUT 90* OF ROTATION ABOUT A FIXED PIVOT SUPPORTR BETWEEN POSITIONS OF UNATTRACTION AND ATTRACTION TO SAID CONTACTS RESPECTIVELY CORRESPONDING TO SAID LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITIONS OF SAID CAM, AND A METALLIC STOP IN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT SAID MAGNET AND MAGNETICALLY ATTRACTABLE BY SAID MAGNET, SAID STOP BEING ENGAGEABLE WITH PORTIONS OF SAID MAGNET TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE FIXED PIVOT SUPPORT IN ITS SAID POSITIOPNS OF UNATTRACTION AND ATTRACTION TO SAID CONTACTS SO AS TO POSITIVELY RETAIN SAID MAGNET IN EACH OF SAID POSITIONS. 